Pronouncing ()

To: common-lisp at SU-AI

Subject: Pronouncing ()

From: Richard M. Stallman <RMS at MIT-AI>

Date: Tue, 02 Mar 1982 03:30:00 -0000

If () becomes different from NIL, there will not be any particular
reason to use the symbol NIL. Old code will still have NILs that are
evaluated, but in those places, NIL will be equivalent to ().
So there will rarely be a need to distinguish between the symbol NIL
and (). It will be no more frequent than having to distinguish
between LIST-OF-A and (A) or between TWO and 2. When the problem does
come up, it will not be insuperable, just a nuisance, like the other
two problems.
Alternatively, we might pronounce () as "empty" or "false".